Taking a look around the league, here’s a recap of last night’s action and suggestions for your fantasy baseball team.
Mr. Clutch (pitcher) – It’s a pitchers dream to face Miami, and last night was a perfect example of it. Brandon McCarthy, who has struggled most of the season, had a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out five. He still has a 4.74 ERA, but his FIP of 3.57 and xFIP of 3.73 point to a pitcher that could turn it around this season. The time to pick McCarthy up is now.
Mr. Clutch (hitter) – David Ortiz was brilliant again last night going 3-for-4 with two home runs, six RBIs, three runs and a walk. It is amazing what he has done so far. Big Papi is putting up numbers he hasn’t put up since 2007. If David Ortiz keeps on chugging, he could be a buy-low guy.
Surprise, surprise! – Hector Gimenez, who has 35 plate appearances all year long, went nuts last night. He went 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs. Needless to say, he is not worthy of a pickup in any league. Generally, backup catchers are not owned in any format.
Here comes the heat – Was last night the start that gets Kris Medlen on the right track? He went 7.0 innings allowing two hits, a run and three walks while striking out five. Medlen did not factor in the decision last night, and his record still stands at 1-5. I think if you own Medlen, you should be looking to flip him after this start. His 3.02 ERA is solid, but the 4.62 ERA, 4.70 xFIP, .257 BABIP and 79.2 LOB% all point to a guy who could be much worse that what he has already been. Sell high!
Left out in the breeze – Jim Johnson, for the second time in a row, has a blown-save loss. This time, it came against Tampa when he allowed three hits, five earned runs and two walks. I still believe in Johnson, and if you are in need of saves, this could be a very nice opportunity to buy low from a panicked Johnson owner.
Who’s trending? – Jon Jay has been very hot this month and is batting over .400. If you own Oscar Taveras, this has to be rough news, because now you need an injury for the Cardinals to call him up. Jay has been a nice source of runs and RBIs. Don’t expect many steals or home runs. That is not in Jay’s game.
Bench me, please? – The shine has worn off Nolan Arenado and his batting average has now dipped to .243. Last night against the Giants, he was 1-for-4 with a run scored. The talent is there, but he is still very raw. With only three walks in 77 plate appearances, Arenado is definitely going to struggle but has the ability to be a good keeper at a weak position.
The Streamer – I’m taking the youngster, Jeff Locke against the Astros tonight. He’s 3-1 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. There is a lot to like about Locke, and with him taking on the Astros, he is a perfect streaming candidate.
